A Blog about the life of a crafts person who designs and creates beautiful items, including greetings cards, decorated gift bags and scented candles. If that's not enough to keep me occupied, I also arrange craft fairs in Surrey under the name of A Fair to Remember to showcase the work of the many talented makers there are in my part of the world.

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Wednesday, 17 September 2014

As you can probably guess, I don't like this foggy weather - I snooze in the conservatory while it's like this. It's all very well everyone telling me that the sun will shine in the afternoon, but I want it to shine in the morning as well.

Did you know I have my very own bedroom? Well, it's a room within a room. I sleep in the bottom of Richard's wardrobe and have done ever since I moved in properly. If I didn't have my own room, I would probably have to sleep in a cardboard box. It is nice and comfy sleeping on Richard's jumper - tough if he wants to wear it! I get a little annoyed if the door is closed and I chase Jill and Richard until they understand what I want. Humans! You are such hard work!

There is another black and white cat in the neighbourhood. A boy! He has much more white on him than me and Jill says his white is cleaner than my white - she mumbled something about using the right sort of washing powder and then laughed because she thought she had made a joke! He keeps coming into my garden, sits on the drive hoping I will come out and play. I keep trying to tell him I am not interested, but he won't give up! I shall have to get my big pal Jazz on to him - actually, that won't help, because Jazz is a friendly cat and will make him his new best friend! Cats! You are such hard work!

Sunday, 14 September 2014

Long time, no write. I think I should write a blog post about the all the excuses I can come up with about not writing a blog post. I did promise myself that no matter what I would write a post every week, but this year that promise has gone to pot! Despite, as always, having plenty to say, because I join in with the Handmade Monday gang I feel guilty at not having any makes to show and share. As time is whizzing by since my last post, I thought 'hey, join in anyway'.

What have I been doing since my last post? In between the usual million and one things we all get bogged down with, earlier this year I applied to take part in the Farnham Maltings Christmas Fair, sent off my paperwork with photographs of my work and as you can imagine, the next few weeks were 'will I, won't I' times. I was so pleased to receive an email telling me 'you have been successful'. It is a two-day event, used to be just one-day, and so many people have said it is hard to get into, so you can imagine I am extra pleased. Need to get on with making stock now - can;t make excuses for not doing that.

My latest Godalming Bazaar event took place on Saturday, 6 September. From an organisation point of view I felt it was successful in that there was plenty going on at the event (craft workshops, wildlife charity, Town Crier and great refreshments) and we had a fantastic 512 customers through the door (compared with 247 visitors at the last Godalming Bazaar event). Those of you involved with craft events, on both sides of the stalls, know getting customers through the door is hard work and getting them to stay and buy is even harder. Of course there were moans - not everyone was pleased, not everyone did well, but it is very hard trying to please everyone and I am sure one day I will realise that it is a pretty impossible task to do that, but for the time being I shall continue to try to achieve the impossible. I have had some great feedback from customers: very impressed with the variety and quality of work at the event, liked that there were not too many stalls selling similar items, great to have make-and-take sessions, first experience of a craft fair and pleasantly surprised, and definitely going to come along to the next one.

On to the next one which takes place on 4 October. I have arranged two make-and-take craft workshops (I use two halls at the Godalming Borough Hall so one in each will be a great attraction), a face-painter, one of the stallholders is offering Henna Tattoos, another is giving Reiki and Indian Head Massage tasters. Plenty to interest and encourage people to spend time at the event and buy from a fabulous range of handmade items. Oh, nearly forgot also have You-Ukes joining us between 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm. Will I please everyone? No, of course not, but it's great fun (and flippin' hard work) along the way.

Several foster kittens have passed through our home recently and gone on to fabulous new homes. We are kitten-less at the moment, but there are plenty more out there waiting to be taken in, looked after and re-homed. It does get a little easier parting with them, and I know they are going to good homes, but if I had a much bigger place.........

That's me more or less up-to-date and this week I will be catching up with my fellow crafters taking part in Handmade Monday - I bet there will be lots of Christmas-themed makes to have a look at. There seems to be lots of new crafters joining in, so it will be nice to see what they all make.

Have a great week everyone, looks like we are going to have some more sunny days.

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

What a day! We had no Internet connection today from early morning until about 4.00 pm. Jill was behaving, in her words, as though her right arm had been cut off. Not sure what that is supposed to mean, except that it sounds rather painful, but she was a very happy person when she was able to get back online. Yet again, these human things confuse and surprise me!

My big best pal Jazz is feeling much better after his trip to the vets on Sunday. He is so lucky, he gets fresh chicken for his meals - I offered him fresh pigeon, but he wasn't very keen on that. He may be enjoying the chicken, but I don't think he is as keen on having the tablets twice a day! Never mind, Jazz, only two more days to go - a shame because I have been pinching some of the chicken and very tasty it is too.

We don't have any any foster-kittens here at the moment - our last two, Boris and Barry, went to their new home on Tuesday and I am sure, like the sensible boys they are, they are now in charge. That's just the way it should be. Cats rule!

Because of this business with Jill's arm being cut off, my post is a little short this week. I am off to bed now - we kittens need our beauty sleep. Well, actually I don't because I am beautiful no matter what happens, but I do need to tuck Jazz in and make sure he has taken his second tablet of the day.

Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Woo hoo, it's going to be hot and sunny here today! Summer's back at last. I have spent too much time inside snoozing recently and that's not much fun for me.

Busy times here again; Jill has her next Godalming Bazaar event on Saturday - I have offered to help with putting the paperwork together, packing things into envelopes, but she has refused my offer of help. She has told me that a wildlife charity (Harper Asprey) will be taking part in the event - I wonder if that's why she doesn't want me to help out on the day?

We have two new foster kittens: Boris and Barry. As always, Jill says they are very cute - she so needs new glasses! There is only so much cuteness in this world and I have all of it! You can find out more about them on the Woking Cats Protection website and you can also check out Tom Tom's information on there too.

As you know I am a big supporter of the Woking Cats Protection branch and I am happy to blog about them and their wonderful work, however, you can imagine my surprise when I saw on Facebook that they are looking for a home for Ringo! Come on Woking CP, surely he made enough money from being a celebrity to buy his own home - have things become so tough for him that he needs your help? Has he hung up his drum kit? Stopped talking about that tank engine he is so fond of? I think my readers need to check Ringo's Facebook page out and make up their own minds. I have to say the years have been a little unkind to him, he is very hairy and ginger now!